Winter break is finally here. Year-end finals are done and the holidays are upon us. Time to give our four legged competitors a well deserved break. A question we often hear from many horse owners is, “Do you need to keep your horse on supplements even when they are not working?” A good question that can be answered with another question, “Why do you have them on the supplements in the first place?”
It is tempting to take our horses off their supplements while they are on break. However, we must remember why they are on them in the first place. These are not drugs, they are nutritional components that feed health! Removing the nutrition removes the benefits that build upon its self with time on the supplement.
- One, if you have a horse that has joint damage the reason that you put them on a supplement such as PJS is to help support the synovial fluid and cartilage along with inflammation. Once you remove the nutritional ingredients from their diet they can, over time begin to revert back to stiffness, pain and lack of mobility. There is no cure for damage that has already occurred, only maintenance.
- Two, by stopping the benefits and support of a supplement, not only can they revert back, but you will also have to deal with expected time that it will take for the supplement to rebuild back up in their system to get them back on their “A” game.” If you choose to take them off and then start back on the supplements when you put them back to work they may not be as loose and limber as they were before. It could take another month or two before they really begin feeling the effects of the supplement (depending on the amount of time off.)
- Three, with supplements like PJS, there is the extra benefit of providing the proper nutrition to support and strengthen the joints, tendons, ligaments, bones and hooves. The stronger the body the less chance of injury. As our horses are enjoying their time off and the cooler temperatures, the chances of a injury during play is much higher. With their excessive energy levels they are looking for ways to burn it off.
Generally speaking if you have a horse with pre-existing issues it is always better to keep them on their supportive nutritional supplements even while on break. Remember a sound horse is a happy horse!